Part III - Locals H-Z continued...
SPECIAL NOTE: Lot Numbers with an "A" preceding them will be offered in three special sessions. Please refer to the Arrangement of the Sale web page for the schedule.
| Lot | Lot Description | ||
| A | 1467 |
 Russell's 8th Ave. Post
Office, New York N.Y., (2c) Black on Yellow (130L2). Huge bottom sheet
margin, large at sides and slightly in at top, a few wrinkles and minor
scuffs at lower right, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), large
margins to barely in, vertical crease, tied by "New-York Dec. 8" circular
datestamp on small cover to Bloomfield N.J.VERY FINE. A CHOICE COVER BEARING THIS RARE EIGHTH AVENUE POST OFFICE LOCAL STAMP IN COMBINATION WITH THE 1851 ISSUE. ONLY THREE 130L2 COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US, INCLUDING TWO USED WITH THE 3-CENT 1851 FROM THE SAME CORRESPONDENCE. Although little documentation has been produced, the accepted history of the Eighth Avenue Post Office is that it was operated by James Price in 1854 and sold that year to David Russell. Price may have issued the unique Eighth Avenue Post Office stamp (Scott 63L1), which is reported to have been used in 1852, however, we do not know the basis of the 63L1 year date, because the one recorded example is on a cover without a letter, postmark or other indication of date. The portrait on the 120L1 stamp issued by Price is thought to be his own. Price's successor, David Russell, is listed at 387 Eighth Avenue in 1854 and then at 410 Eighth Avenue from 1855 until 1857-58. The 1855-56 directory lists his occupation as "express" and in 1856-58 it is given as "subpost." Price issued a stamp very similar in design to Russell's (see lots 1440-1441). The following count of covers resulted from our survey of auction catalogues, the Boker collection, Sloane's notes and the Costales files: 130L1 Blue on Rose -- 5 (3 tied), 130L2 Black on Yellow -- 3 (1 tied but with 3c 1851 missing), 130L3 Red on Bluish -- 4 (1 tied), and 130L4 Blue Green on Green -- 1 stamp off cover (no covers known). Three covers are addressed to Miss Susan Magie in Bloomfield N.J., including two with 130L2 and one with 130L3, in each case the Eighth Avenue P.O. stamp is uncancelled. Ex Lilly. (Image) |
E. 4,000-5,000 |
| A | 1468 |
 Russell's 8th Ave. Post
Office, New York N.Y., (2c) Red on Bluish (130L3). Ample margins to
just touching, top right corner skinned slightly before use, uncancelled,
used with 3c Dull Red (11), ample margins to touched, tied by "New-York
Nov. 14" circular datestamp on buff cover to Springfield Mass., some excess
glue around both stamps serves to confirm usage, with 1854 letter enclosed,
gives writer's address at 367 West 24th Street, small tear in cover just
above local stampFINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED 130L3 COVERS, OF WHICH THREE HAVE UNCANCELLED STAMPS. ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE AND ELUSIVE OF NEW YORK CITY LOCALS. As detailed in the description for lot 1468, we located four 130L3 covers in our survey of auctions and other sources. Only one 130L3 cover has a postmark tying the stamp. Ex Abt. (Image) |
E. 3,000-4,000 |